Simple tricks to get rid of bloating

Less bloat means more room for dessert!

Digesting a holiday-sized meal is hard enough, but dealing with the bloat afterwards can be even more difficult and unflattering. Luckily, there are simple, healthy ways to beat the bloat.

It's important to first understand why your stomach feels stretched, puffy, and uncomfortable. It could be due to a number of reasons, including excess gas, constipation, a food intolerance, or, in fewer cases, it could be a symptom of Coeliac disease. There are also a number of measures to prevent bloating, including cutting down on foods like beans, broccoli, cabbage, dairy, fizzy drinks, and salt, all of which are known to cause gas. You should also sit down when you eat, and exercise regularly to improve digestion.

But if you're only human and have failed to do any number of those things, or all of them, there are still easy ways to combat the awful feeling.

Chew on some celery. This is especially good if your bloat was caused by a few too many drinks. The hydrating vegetable works as both a diuretic and a laxative, and is said to relieve liver congestion as well. If you haven't tried eating celery with peanut butter, this is your chance.

Make yourself a cup of tea. Everyone overeats from time to time, and there's nothing like a cup of peppermint tea to say "sorry" to your body and help it digest all that food. Peppermint, specifically, is a natural digestive enzyme-rich food that relaxes the digestive tract and can decrease stomach pains. If mint is not your thing, there are also herbal teas like ginger and dandelion that support digestion and reduce bloating.

Eat potassium-rich foods. While eating might not sound appealing right away, potassium-rich foods like asparagus and citrus fruits counteract the water-retaining effects of sodium. So make yourself a smoothie or chomp on some asparagus, which is also rich in prebiotics.

Pick up some prebiotics. Give your stomach some TLC by treating it to prebiotics, which are a certain variety of plant fiber especially effective at controlling the bacteria that creates gas. You can find prebiotics in all kinds of foods, ranging from garlic and onions to leek, cocoa, apples, and oats.

Drink coffee without guilt. Indulging in another cup of steamy black caffeine is actually really good for you. Fluids help flush waste out of your system and reduce water retention, plus coffee contracts the colon, helping you to go.